By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

LaGrange High’s wrestling team delivered a solid showing during the Clint McCalls Duals in Oxford, Ala. on Saturday.

LaGrange finished fifth out of 12 teams with a 2-2 record, with the host Oxford team capturing the championship.

“We wrestled with a lot of energy despite being down 18 points due to three forfeits,” LaGrange coach Scooter Weathers said. “We had two wrestlers sick and one out with a very important family service. Starting out behind the eight-ball (down) 18-0 is an uphill climb and the guys answered the challenge time and time again.”

LaGrange opened against Chelsea (Ala.) and lost 40-34.

In the second round, LaGrange beat Russell County 50-20.

“We wrestled with more energy that dual and won a few tough matches in which the momentum fueled the guys,” Weathers said.

LaGrange then faced Oxford and lost 50-30.

“We didn’t wrestle with that fire in our gut against Oxford,” Weathers said. “We got punched early and didn’t respond well.”

In its final match, LaGrange beat Cleburne County to finish fifth.

“We really scrapped against Cleburne County after falling hard to Oxford,” Weathers said. “It was good to see the guys respond after the Oxford match. Wrestling is the most challenging sport there is. It is real easy to get down and out but at the same time it is good to be able to see how the guys will respond.”

Weathers added that “overall we wrestled well and we are improving every time we get on the mat. Everything we do as of now are merely organized practices. The real season is around the corner.”

Hunter Brooks was LaGrange’s top individual wrestler with a 4-0 record.

“It was great to see Hunter wrestle like he can,” Weathers said. “He has wrestled really lethargic as of late so it was promising to see him step up.”

Asa Leath, Christian Whaley and RJ Haley each went 2-0

Whaley and Haley each wrestled twice at 220 pounds.

Isaiah Coleman was 3-1, Matt Callaway was 2-1, Austin Skiff and Jacob Anderson were 2-2, and Colin Cavender, Jaden McCurty, Austin Crow, Alec Morrissette, Isaiah Jordan, Devin Harris and Qua Thornton each won one match.

LaGrange will be at Lassiter on Saturday for a 12-team dual tournament.

LaGrange will host the Gary Silva Invitational on Dec. 28-29 at Gardner Newman.